It is 7:00pm 9th of April, 2014

I need to start writing about my adventures and thoughts so that a record will be left behind when I am no longer in this world. Unfortunately, each time I begin to write, it is tossed out as something I deem to be “too boring”. This time, boring or not, I will keep the writing and add to it daily if for no other reason than to help me clarify my thoughts. At the present I am sitting in a tent at Broadwater, Australia, having arrived in Brisbane five days ago from Cairo, Egypt. I have decided to cycle from Brisbane to Sydney for no good reason other than to see the country. Last night I spent camping in Byron Bay. It rained continuously throughout the night and I lay in the tent contemplating the various phases of my life. It became obvious to me that most of my life has been dedicated to raising children and caring for wives and that without a matrix of needy human beings, I am basically lost. Don’t get me wrong, I am alone but not lonely. The idea of having no where to be and no one to care for is as liberating as it is frightening. It is not in my nature to be self-entertaining. Following the example of others, I stop for a beer at a local pub but realize that it is as much a waste of time as it is money. Beer is a social beverage. Food is reduced to simple fuel to keep me functioning and the savor has long since past. The last enjoyable meal I can remember having was with my twin sons, Luc & Will, on our arrival in San Diego, California. We splurged on a steak dinner as celebration for completing the “southern tier” bicycle route from St Augustine, Florida to San Diego. That food tasted fantastic and the company was good. It was a great night and a good time was had by all.

This leads me back to the subject of self-entertainment. Sometimes I wonder if my inability to have fun by myself is a form of depression. Even a trip like the one I am presently on is of no importance without photos to share with who? In the words of King Soloman, “the whole world is vanity”. I have built businesses and amassed wealth only to see it drained away or stolen. I have raised up children only to see them turn to treachery and turn their back on the truth. So what is the purpose of a man’s life and what scale is used to determine its value? In the end each is forgotten and these feeble records are all that remain of the thoughts, dreams and aspirations of a man. Enough rambling for one night.